Bhagavad Gita Bhasya (Gambhirananada)

man thinks he will die, he says to his son, "You are
Brahman, you are the sacrifice, and you are the
world,"' etc. It has been enjoined here in this
manner that the son should accept as his own all
the duties thus entrusted to him by the father.
Similarly, it is understood that when a son in
unable to perform his own duties, the father has to
accept them. So also in the case of brothers and
others. Thus, in the case of the enlightened person
also, though there is a comprehension of his own
distinction from effect and cause, still, owing to his
earlier relationship with ignorance, body, etc.,
there is no contradiction in his understanding that
the injunctions and prohibitions are meant for
him.] Reply: No, since identification of the Self
with effect and cause is possible only before
attaining the knowledge of the Self as distinct
(from them). It is only after one has followed (or
eschewed) what is enjoined or prohibited by the
scriptures that he comprehends his own distinction
from the effect and cause; not before. [In B.S.
(3.4.26-7) it is said that the merit earned by the
performance of scriptural duties helps to generate
knowledge of Brahman. Therefore these duties are
not meant for the enlightened. (By following what
is enjoined, and avoiding what is prohibited, one's
mind becomes purified, and then only one
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